GUIDING BEHAVIOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE WAY!
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If you have questions or comments, you can communicate with your instructor by email at professionaldevelopment@clarendonees.org.
Course requirements:
- Complete all lessons and activities.
- Share your thoughts on the Course Discussion Board when required in the lessons by responding to the instructor’s questions. Feel free to offer positive comments to other participants! You must engage with the Discussion Board to pass the course.
- Complete the Knowledge Check.
- Complete the Course Evaluation.
Course Content
Learning Objectives
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REFLECTION – Positive Guidance
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INTRODUCTION
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FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR
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STRATEGIES FOR RESPONDING TO CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR
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EXAMPLES OF USEFUL STRATEGIES
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REFRAMING YOUR “HOT BUTTON” BEHAVIOR
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PROMOTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOR AND SELF-REGULATION
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CREATE A “YES” ENVIRONMENT
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USING POSITIVE GUIDANCE AS A TEACHING STRATEGY
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DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
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FINAL REFLECTION: INTENTIONAL POSITIVE GUIDANCE
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Evaluation
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Positive Guidance Knowledge Check
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Course Discussion
As you progress through the lessons, please respond to the instructor’s numbered questions below (in bold text).
Education Assistance
jbianchi@clarendonees.org
Joanna Doyle
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(800)875-1234 Ext. 206
Rosemary Hernandez
Co Executive Director of Education & Training
(800)875-1234 Ext. 510
Question 1:Think about how you guide behavior in your professional work with children. Is this similar to or different from how you were guided as a child?
When I think back to my own childhood, I guide behavior through positive reinforcement, modeling, and setting clear, consistent expectations. I focus on redirecting challenging behaviors with patience and offering children choices to help them feel empowered. This approach helps children build self regulation skills and understand the natural consequences of their actions.
I think it’s quite different from how I was raised. I can’t say I wasn’t happy growing up, but growing up, I did not feel that I had choices in many scenarios, like some others have noted, or a clear understanding of why certain behaviors were discouraged and sometimes reprimanded. Now, I find it important to support children in acknowledging and expressing their emotions, sharing their thoughts and feelings, and communicating their preferences (positive or negative)
In my case is very different from how I was guided. Now a days we talk and show love to our children. Back then in my situation I wasn’t given choices or was showed much love. It was whatever the grown up said without any questions asked. Don’t get me wrong I had an amazing childhood, but things were very different as I was growing up.
I agree that things have changed. We know more about children’s development. Therefore, we can do so much more while fostering independence and self-help skills for children. Thanks for your comment.
A forma como se trata uma criança é muito diferente da forma que eramos orientados, no meu trabalho orientamos com muito mais calma e carinho.
I guide my children in a positive way, when handling with behaviors. it is very different from
when I was a child
Yes for me it’s similar and different. Similar to me is I had limits and boundaries, security, parent collaboration, how to model positive behaviors, consequences etc: All these and more still exist but is approached in different tone where as a parent or professional guardian children are guided without feeling of fear or abuse comparing when I was a child.
si es lo mismo ,solo que ahora los padres son muy permisibles con sus hijo , les dan todo los que ellos quieran
Question 2: Please share what stood out to you in the video about Understanding Early Childhood Behavior.
The video reminded me how important it is to respond with patience, empathy, and understanding so we can support children in learning how to regulate themselves.
I think what stood out the most for me is the different reasons and situations that can make children to mis behave.
Como os pais buscam um comportamento na criança mas nem sempre as crianças se comportam como o esperado.
What stood up to me was how the child’s parent want the child to behave which could make a concern for the child’s behavior at the daycare. For example, if a child is not actively moving around and not talking, we could discuss with the parents how the child behavior can help overtime.
ENSENARLE A JUGAR JUNTOS Y ACOMPARTIR UN JUGETE ESPERANDO POR SU TURNO
Question 3: Please share your “hot button” behavior and one strategy you might try.
A “hot button” behavior for me is when children refuse to listen after I give directions, which can feel frustrating in the moment. A strategy I might try is staying calm and using positive redirection, such as offering simple choices or giving the child a helper role. This approach can reduce conflict while encouraging cooperation and responsibility.
I would say my “hot button” behavior would be when a child hurts another child.
One strategy I would try is teaching the child that it hurts and expressing how it makes the child that is hurt feel. I would redirect and encourage positive behavior instead.
I would try the redirecting technique. I think saying no or don’t do that will only get child more upset. Sitting down with a child and showing the child respect and understanding will go much further.
My “hot button” is when a child interrupts or try to get my attention while I am talking to someone. I see it as them needing attention. I can respond by acknowledging their feelings and showing them a better way to ask for help.
Devemos nos lembrar que somos adultos e crianças veem o mundo de uma forma diferente. Por isso a paciência e carinho é algo que devemos cultivar.
One strategy I could use is avoiding saying “No,” “Uhuh,” “Stop,” and “Cut that out.” Instead, I would take deep breaths and count to 10 to calm myself down.
There are many breathing techniques you can use. You can also use positive redirection. Point out all of the positive things the child does. When redirecting the child use positive words. Good work!
Question 4A: After watching the video about setting rules and expectations, please describe how you teach the children your expectations about behavior?
After watching the video about setting rules and expectations, I realized the important of being clear, consistent, and positive when teaching children about behavior.
I redirect them by asking what made them upset or figuring out why they’re upset. I could help bring the person who has either made them sad, annoyed, or mad to sort things out and talk it out to a solution.
Question 4B: How do you know that your expectations for behavior are realistic?
Eles param e ficam atentos enquanto falo além do mais eu mostro para ele as figuras que estão fixadas na prede da sala, sobre os comportamentos que devemos evitar.
They help me by talking things out would explain which perspective’s they see, hear, think, and feel which to things being sorted out.
Question 4C: Do you teach your expectations in advance (when children are ready to learn), as opposed to reacting?
Sim, eu reuno as crianças nas primeiras horas do dia e antes do circle time explico sobre os combinados do dia.
No, because I take things step by step to help learn and providing the child’s needs, communication, and attention.
Question 5: Choose one behavior that is challenging for you. Describe one or two strategies you might try to teach the child appropriate behavior and/or support their social-emotional development.
I would say model turn- taking and sharing by playing alongside the children, using simple language such as, “it’s my turn now, them it’s your turn. I also use role play with dolls or puppets to show positive ways of asking, waiting, and sharing.
I would say a challenging behavior can be a child that bites other children when getting upset. One strategy I would implement is an emotions chart to support their social/emotional development. I would encourage the child to learn how to express their feelings in a positive way and pretend play scenarios and how to react to our feelings.
Great idea to use pretend play scenarios to begin teaching about self-management.
Gritar é um comportamento desafiador para mim. Utilizo cards de figuras como forma de orientar sobre as regras de segurança para todas as crianças. E falo sobre as boas maneiras.
I would help the kids who would have been pushed and comfort them. Then I would ask the kid who pushed them, what they want. Next thing is, they have what they wanted and the kid who have pushed them who choose a different toy who they most likely enjoy more.
Anna, this is a great response. It is always good to ask open ended questions and follow up in regard to the children’s feelings. Keep up the good work.
Pues no puedo decir que tuve una mala creencia pero es bastante diferente a como trato con los niños. Trato de entender a su temprana edad que ser positivo con ellos en vez de reprender sus acciones los revdirectivo con algo positivo y una sugerencia de cómo mejorar así el niño no se siente que siempre está mal. Darles opciones positivas
I guide children with patience, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement. This is a bit different from how I was guided as a child, which was more strict. I find that encouraging understanding and problem-solving helps children feel supported and respected.
Agreed, Thais! It’s all about teaching the skills.
I guide my children to be good children and to be kind tonothers
En mi trabajo con niños, guío el comportamiento con respeto, empatía y refuerzo positivo, fomentando que comprendan las reglas y aprendan a autorregularse. Esto es diferente a mi infancia, donde la disciplina era más autoritaria y centrada en la obediencia sin mucha explicación.
Eu procuro orientar as crianças do meu programa de maneira positiva, mas na minha educacao foi totalmente diferente.
It is different because when I was young there were consequences for everything you do, now there is less consequences than before your actions as kids.
If a 3 year old is pushing others for toys I will talk to the child calmly and try and give them a toy bigger or funner for them and give all the kids an activity to do
Redirecting is a great technique.
Will help them by doing an activity or reading them a book,fun songs
I handle behaviors in a positive way verbally. When I was a child my parents handles it physically if I were to misbehave
It’s important to remember that our job is to teach appropriate behavior, not to punish. Thank you for sharing.
Para mi los tiempos son muy diferentes aa como me educaron ya que despues del 911 ubieron muchos cambios en las leyes. Mi educacion fue muy estricta , pero con muy buenos valores
Be consistent and stay positive. Let the child know it’s ok to miss mom she will come back.offer comfort objects and praise the child when separation goes well and encourage independence.
Identify what behaviors you want to see, such as using inside voice, or sharing toys. Use age appropriate language to communicate your expectations with younger and older children. Explain reason behind rules help children to understand how the the following explanation contributes to positive environment . Involve children in establishing classroom rules and be a role model because children learn by observing adults.reward children when you acknowledge desired behaviors. 4b. Are they Realistic can have flaws and imperfections like grownups I think they act based on understandable motivations whether they are internal or external circumstances. They display a range of emotions and their reactions feel appropriate for the situations they face.4c. Educators/guardians should teach children when they are in the mood ready and able to learn. Not when they’re angry.
Adults can change their responses to child’s behavior by adopting various strategies that focus on understanding, positive reinforcement and consistent boundaries. Like communication and interaction, active listening ,redirection, consistency and avoid giving in.
Get down to their level, visual cues, use books, offer time and space for physical play. Staying calm, be consistent and give redirection and positive reinforcement.
What triggers the behaviors, what is the child trying to achieve with the behavior can it be sensory, attention or escape. Establish rules and expectations, positive reinforcement as develop appropriate ways to communicate their needs. Try to to shift attention to different activities if works, review behavior an adjust strategy accordingly and modify approach based on what you learned. No single strategy I think will work , maybe consistency, patience and understanding and collaboration with families and professionals.
In the video every child has a different behavior that’s observed. When these behaviors occurs whether it’s with one child or many it can be overwhelming with a care giver/educator. we aren’t direct family members we’re here to educate in many ways than one. We cannot ignore the behavioral signs, because it can be medical, physical, sensory, over or under overstimulation, language delay, safety or security, so many factors. We have to consider what’s typical for these early developers are they shy or they open, is there issues with parenting skills/environment. We educators has to try to learn different strategies to influence their behaviors. We may not have control over everything a child does, as their educator we have some control through education to help them emotional literacy and physical behaviors and either we are annoyed or overwhelmed as the video says, this may be bigger than us to handle at any one time so we should seek help such as referrals and support for children and families so we can understand the root cause and we will be able to teach and guide with more success.
pienso que Sigue siendo igual pero ahora es que abc los padres cren que dejandolo Acer lo que Ellos quieran es una demuostracion de amor
Es muy diferente a como me criaron ,ahora los ninos son mas inteligente que antes. Podemos verlo al nacer como era antes y ahora estan con los ojos abierto ,tenemos que ayudar a esta generaciones de la era digital,porque tambien la Tecnologia es ahora la que cria a nuestro hijos.Saben mas de lo de afuera que lo MISMO de la familia.Gracias.Tenemos que ayudar todos los ninos que nos nesecitan en sus diferente area.
es un poco diferente por las diferente cultura
como profecional no podemos guiar los ninos como nos criaron anosotros
CREO QUE HAY QUE ENSEÑARLE A COMPARTIR PERO TAMBIEN HAY QUE TENER SUFIENTES MATERIALES POR LO MENOS 3 DE CADA UNO YHACERLE JUEGOS DE CXCOMPETENCIAS Y DE TURNOS
LOS TIEMPOS HAN CAMBIADO PERO LOS VALORES Y LAS ENSEÑANZAS SON LAS MISMAS TENEMOS QUE FORMAR BASES SOLIDAS CON RESPETO Y CARIÑO Y FORTALECER SUS NECESIDADES
my Hot button behavior for me is when they have free play time then no one wants to clean up, what I do is talk to them on how they come to learn and play and cleaning after yourself is part of learning too, plus I always mention the next activity we’re doing, so they get excited and cooperate.
My “hot button behavior” is when they don’t cooperate not following instructions specially when they come back on Mondays is like if they don’t want to do anything or participate in any activity. Is always good finding way on how to redirect them and implement techniques in your daily routine.
El bebe de 6 meses que llora, esta en el proceso de desapego de la madre o cuidador primario, comprender que es un proceso normal, darle suficientemente atención, cariño, tomarlo en brazos el mayor tiempo posible, explorar juntos que llama su atención, seguir una rutina.
Gloria tienes un buen ejemplo y buenas soluciones. Bien hecho!
Aveces por el corre corre del dia a dia lo tomamos muy superficial y no vamos a la raíz, hay que tomar tiempo y hacer un plan para ir chuliando posibles causas y soluciones.
If a 15month old was in my care biting his friends, I would let them know that’s not alright, we do not bite our friends look you made them cry , biting hurts your friend is sad we use our words not our teeth. If a 2year old cries at drop off every time comfort them and stick with the routine , most likely they are not a morning person .
My hot button behavior , is when the children go home for the weekend . When they come back on Monday they are crying constantly not wanting to eat or participate in activities , because they got woke up to come to daycare they are off schedule it takes after nap time for them to calm down to where they can participate in any activity
Thank you for sharing, Barbara. I wonder if you might try a special “calm down” activity on Monday mornings, something that is easy for the children and for you.
Times have change so much from when I was a child, when I was a child we did as we were told by an adult there was no expressing yourself expressing you self meant you were talking back. Times are different now the children get the chance to explain why they are behaving this way and we as caregivers need to find out what triggered this behavior , how can we prevent this , what can we do to redirect them remember and implement this strategy in your routines when necessary
Well said, Barbara! Looking for the message in the behavior is key.